Ciscovaras Pictures

Francis Manuel Abbey is an award-winning Filipino American filmmaker with over 20 years of experience crafting compelling narratives across various formats. As the founder of Ciscovaras Pictures, he has written, directed, and produced feature films like "Boxing Day" and "Six Nonsmokers," as well as the fantasy series "The Broken Continent."

Abbey is passionate about increasing Filipino representation in media, championing this cause through his Barkada DMV brand, which develops scripted and documentary content. His work often explores themes of identity, belonging, and cultural heritage.

In addition to his independent film work, Abbey has a strong background in broadcast journalism and digital media. He has worked as a producer and manager for TEGNA Media, creating content for numerous local news stations and spearheading innovative projects like the human-interest brand "HeartThreads." His contributions to the field have earned him five National Capital Emmy Awards.

Abbey's script "Say Boo," inspired by Filipino mythology, has garnered recognition, placing in the top 1% of more than 10,000 projects on Coverfly and winning several awards.

He is currently a producer on the feature-length documentary “Faith Healers” and continues to develop new projects with Barkada DMV.